Dual control switch



March 27, 1951 F. e. BEUER DUAL CONTROL SWITCH Filed Aug. 23, 1948 FIG.7.

FIG.4.

FIG.3.

IFIG.8. F|G.9.

' FIG. IO.

INVENTOR.

FREDERICK G. BEUER ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 27, 1951 DUAL CONTROL SWITCH Frederick G. Beuer, St. Louis, Mo., assignor' to Carter Carburetor Corporation, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Delaware Application August 23, 1948, Serial No. 45,621 2 Claims. (01. zon -153) This invention relates to switch devices and consists in an improvement on the transmission kick-down switch device illustrated in Boyce Patent No. 2,396,551.

. I In the above patent, the switch which controls the so-called kick-down device associated. with the automobile transmission, consists of a stationary' and a movable contact and an actuator for the movable contact which operates with the throttle valve to close the switch contact. A cylinder exposed to engine suction intersects the contact and a piston operates in the cylinder and carries a resilient finger which is interposed between the contacts, when the suction applied to the cylinder is below a predetermined value, so

as to permit closing of the switch contact. At periods of higher suction, the piston is lifted, removing the spring finger from between the contacts and preventing their closure thereafter.

In this arrangement, the piston is formed of Bakelite and the spring finger comprises a very small angular spring piece which is attached to the bottom of the piston by a screw. This operation is difficult because of the very small parts involved and, particularly, the tapping of the piston for the spring finger attaching screw is a diflicult operation.

The main object of the present invention is to simplify the construction and assembly of the spring finger arrangement in the above type of switch.

This object and other more detailed objects hereafter appearing are attained by the device illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic representation showing part of an automotive engine and controls therefor.

Fig. 2 is a side view of a portion of the carburetor enlarged, and showing the switch in vertical section.

Fig. 3 is a detail elevation of the piston removed from the assembly.

Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section through the piston, taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 5 is an elevation of the piston on the other side of that shown in Fig. 3.

Figs. 6 and '7 are cross sections of the piston takenon the corresponding section lines of Fig. 4 and showing the spring clip in position.

Figs. 8, 9 and 10, are side, rear, and bottom giews, respectively, of the spring clip disassemled.

Fig.1 shows an automotive engine I2 having an intake manifold l 3 and carburetor l 4. Rearwardly of the engine there is provided the clutch in housing l5 and transmission 16 provided with a rearward extension IT. The carburetor is provided with the usual throttle valve l8 which is operated from the drivers compartment by linkage l9 and pedal 20. A gear shift lever is shown at 2|. A kick-down control solenoid 22 mounted on portion ll of the transmission is connected by suitable wiring to storage battery 23 and a switch,

generally indicated at 24, mounted on the carburetor.

The switch, to which this invention particularly pertains, has an angulate body 21 cast integral with the carburetor body and hollow to form intersecting cylinders 28, 29 and 30. A stationary switch contact 3| is mounted in the switch body at the intersection of cylinders 28 and 29. "A movable switch contact plunger 32 is slidably received in cylinder 29 and has a telescoping p'ortion 33 projecting outwardly thereof through cover plate 35. Plunger 32 is maintained in its rightward position by a coiled spring 35 and projecting plunger 33 is maintained extended by a coiled spring 36 therein. 7

An arm 3'! rigid with the throttle valve has an extension 38 which is disposed to engage telescoping plunger 36 as the throttle valve is fully opened so as to urge movable contact plunger 32 leftwardly to close the switch contacts. Telescoping portion 33 of the plunger permits overrunning of the throttle without damaging the parts.

A piston 40 works in cylinder 28 and its upper surface is exposed to engine produced suction within the carburetor by means of a passage 4|. The piston is constantly urged downwardly by a coiled spring 42. The intermediate portion of the piston is provided with a longitudinal slot 43 which, as best shown in Fig. 5, is of keyhole shape. The lower portion of the slot embraces contacts 3| and 32 so that the piston may slide longitudinally in its cylinder with its movements limited. only by the top and bottom walls of the cylinder. The body of the piston is formed conveniently of a piece of cylindrical stock of plastic material with its upper portion hollowed, as at 44, to accommodate spring 42. A pair of cuts 45 in one face of the piston body at the upper end of slot 43 (Figs. 3 and '7), leaves a tongue 46 forming a transverse wall 41 across the upper portion of the slot. The cuts 45 are of suflicient depth to expose recesses, as at 48, at each side of tongue 46. As best shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, the widened upper portion of the slot is bounded at one end by the transverse wall 41 formed by finger 45. A pair of opposing lugs 59 are formed in the upper corners of the slot adjacent transverse wall 41.

that the element will enter the side of the key; hole slot shown in Fig. 5. When the clip is fullyinserted, the cross bar and upper deg portions thereof abut lugs 50, as shown iIl Fig. 6, andears 54 slip-behind the shoulderssformed by recesses 48 (Fig. '7). The engagement at these points locks the spring clip element against transverse movement. Longitudinal displacement of the clip element is prevented by the close Vfit oithe 4 all modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims is contemplated.

Iclaim:

1. A switch device comprising a pair of con tacts, at least one being movable, an actuator for said movable contact, a guide member movable in a line intersecting said contacts and having a longitudinal w"keyhole rshaped slot with opposedrecesses in the sides thereof, and a keyhole shaped, laterally resilient element lodged in 'said slot and having lateral ears seated in said recesses-for firmly securing said element to said enlarged upper portion of the U-shaped spring clip within the correspondingly shaped portion of the slotin'thepiston.

The clip is thus :firmly lodged in Bush @051- 'ition so that linger $3, normally, is interposed between contacts 3! and 32. "Underlthispondition, actuation of movable contact 32 :by actuator 38, will cause closure of the switch. Increase 10f the suction applied :to the upper surface 101" the piston, withdraws :spring finger .53 upwardly 4 after which, ibecauselof .limited movement :0!

plunger 32, the switch points cannot close.

Depending Lcyli-nder 1:39 is formed [on the under 1 side of cylinder :25 zandireceives .a piston :51 :con-

potently urged upwardly :by :a coil spring .62. A

" fletent finger B3,, on the =npper surface sQf rt-his pistunflserves :asea :latch in cooperation with telescopin plunger 333 under certain asuction :conditions. This feature is zmore tully described and claimedin a :cofiendingapplication, Serial NnrZBfiQZ, rfiled May 24, 1-948 in the "name :of LeonardnBo-yce. I This invention may be modified :as will occur to-those skilled the art without departing from the spirit thereof and the exclusive use of guide member, said element also having a centrail-tongue movable to and from positions between said contacts for affecting the operation "thereof. f iznAiswitch device comprising a pair of contacts, at least one being movable, an actuator for said movable contact, a member having a slot straddling said contacts and movable transversely thereof, there being a transverse wall and file of this patent:

adjacent opposed shoulders .in :said slot, :and a "spring :clip element lodged :in :said slot with :edges abutting said wall and ears resiliently wseated behind said shoulders to maintain the :assembly, said telement :also having a centrally :projeoting finger :interposable between said contacts 1130 effeet the closure threeof by said actuator, said slot and said spring :clip element being of key- .hole shape :for ;=resisting longitudinal :displacementiofsaid element. v

EREDERIQK G. :BEUER.

REFEREN-GES :CIFIY-ED The -icillowing references "are of record in' th "UNITED STATES TQPATENTIS :Number Name Date 13386506 Anthony Oct. 9,, 1928 1,839,095 Goetz Dec. 29., .1931 1,842,524 Hansen (Jan. ,26, 1932 Boyce Mar. 12 1-946 

